Creative Expressions Artists Selected to Exhibit in Arkell Juried Show

Local artists Richard Freeman and Francis Dempsey were selected into the Arkell Museum and Canajoharie Library’s 2017 The Art of New York: Annual Juried Art Show. Freeman is exhibiting “Silver Dollars,” a mixed media piece, and Dempsey is exhibiting “Cosmic Pool,” an acrylic and silicone painting.

Francis Dempsey and Richard Freeman

Both artists have honed their skills through classes at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts and the Creative Expressions program at Lexington, a chapter of The Arc New York, through which they have already participated in many other local exhibitions, won awards and sold their art. The Nigra Arts Center is an organization that hosts art exhibitions, special events, concerts, programming for children and classes in every type of art media. Lexington founded the center in 2015 to help bring the community together and support people to achieve success and fulfillment through the arts.

Each year, artists living in New York State are invited to submit entries to The Art of New York: Annual Juried Art Show hosted by the Arkell Museum and Canajoharie Library. The show is open to artists working in any media. The 2017 show, juried by Ann Larsen, artist, teacher and past president of American Women Artists, will be on exhibit from November 3rd, 2017 through January 3rd, 2018 in the Regional Art Galleries. The Art of New York exhibit features work from artists from across New York. It will be on display through January 3 at the Arkell Museum and the Canajoharie Library at 2 Erie Boulevard, Canajoharie, NY. For more information, visit www.arkellmuseum.org or call (518) 673-2314.

NIGRA ARTS CENTER RECEIVES AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts in Gloversville, New York is being honored with a 2017 Award of Excellence by CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership. This award acknowledges their creation of an inclusive environment where artistic expression and diverse creativity can flourish for all aspiring and established artists, both with and without disability. The community-based facility offers classes, exhibits, productions, concerts, camps, workshops, and other enrichment experiences where all participants are respected as artists, actors, dancers, musicians, and aspiring chefs.

Angela Rapp Kennedy, Vice President, CQL; Mary Kay Rizzolo, CEO, CQL; Shaloni Winston, Executive Director, Lexington; and Daniel Richardson, Deputy Executive Director, Lexington.

“The Nigra Arts Center has a genuine attentiveness to each person as an artist. Instead of focusing on disability as being the context for their creation, each artist’s work stands on its own, just as it should. It’s a refreshing approach,” says Mary Kay Rizzolo, President and CEO of CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership. CQL is presenting five recipients with the 2017 CQL Award of Excellence at the 2017 CQL Conference, themed ‘Blueprint for Person-Centered Practices,’ in recognition of best practices in human services.

The Lexington Foundation, of Lexington, a chapter of the Arc of New York, owns and operates the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts. Following numerous Personal Outcome Measures® interviews, Lexington discovered that many people had interest in the creative arts and wanted more opportunities to enjoy and express themselves. This center is unique in that community members take part in program activities, right along with those receiving more formal supports. The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts also does not differentiate artists based on diagnosis during juried exhibitions, as there is no reference at all to an artist’s disability. 

“We are most proud to see people with disabilities recognized for their individual talents and abilities by everyone who comes to the arts center.  Every day they are learning and sharing experiences with others who have common goals and aspirations. This has helped them feel respected and to be true members of the community,” said Shaloni Winston, Executive Director of Lexington and the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts. “We are grateful to CQL for this honor and recognition.”

The mission of the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is to provide a creative educational resource for people of all ages and abilities while celebrating the arts through classes, entertainment, exhibitions, and special events. Additionally, they are committed to offering accessible art programs for adults and children with developmental and physical differences.

Paul Nigra Center Music Teacher DiAnne Mott Nominated for a Grammy!

Congratulations to DiAnne Mott, who taught music and rhythm classes at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts this summer! She has been selected as one of only 25 semifinalists from all over the country for the 2016 Grammy Music Educator Award. This award is presented every year by the Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation to recognize educators who have made significant and lasting contributions to the field of music education.

DiAnne Mott teaches her Music & Rhythm class at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts this summer.

DiAnne was chosen from more than 4,500 educators nominated. In December the semifinalists will be narrowed down to 10 finalists, who will each receive a $1,000 honorarium and grants for their schools. One winner will attend the Grammy Award ceremony in Los Angeles in February and receive a $10,000 honorarium.

For most of the year, DiAnne teaches music and leads the bands at Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville Central School District. There is no one more deserving of this award, because there is no one more passionate about what she does. You make us all proud, DiAnne!